Entering an agreement with Teichert Construction, Inc., of Stockton, the City of Turlock plans to make just over $1 million in improvements to E. Main Street, Colorado Avenue and Fulkerth Road, wit...

The city will soon begin improvements to multiple roadways throughout town, including E. Main Street, Colorado Avenue and Fulkerth Road, following approval by the City Council on Tuesday.

Awarding a bid in the amount of $836,841 to Teichert Construction, Inc. of Stockton, the project will utilize federal funds from the Regional Transportation System Plan program that the City receives on an annual basis to rehabilitate E. Main from Canal to Berkeley, Colorado from Canal to Hawkeye, and Fulkerth from Fransil to Highway 99.

As part of the rehabilitation, the project will install a rubberized asphalt overlay and upgrade the access ramps to meet current ADA standards.

While the majority of the project is backed by federal funding – making up $659,859 of the total cost – the city will also be utilizing gas tax funds to cover the remaining $349,841. Although the total cost of the project awarded to Teichert Construction, Inc., is merely an estimate, City Engineer Mike Pitcock says that all unused funds will be returned to the city’s gas tax fund.

Staff had originally anticipated using $85,492 in gas tax funds to match the RTSP monies, however, as the project had become more expensive than originally estimated, the Council unanimously approved a transfer of $264,349 in gas tax funds to cover the newly projected cost. According to City staff, the total cost of rehabilitating the three roadways is estimated at just over $1 million.

Although the contract was approved during Tuesday’s Council meeting, Teichert Construction, Inc., has not yet established a set date to start the construction process.

Across town, the Monte Vista Avenue Rehabilitation Project is still currently underway, as the city began making improvements to the section between Crowell and Geer Roads towards the end of last year. Although Pitcock had previously mentioned weather conditions placing a setback on the project during cold and wet winter months, he reported to the Council that the project would soon be nearing completion.

Starting April 7, California State University, Stanislaus students might see an increase in parking difficulties, as Pitcock announced that the city will be eliminating parking along Monte Vista Avenue from Crowell to Geer roads during that week due to construction.

In an effort to decrease the impacts on CSU Stanislaus students, Pitcock shared that the city will be finishing the project with the final repaving occurring concurrently with the university’s spring break, during the week of April 14.

“We’re trying to create as little of an impact as possible on the university and its students,” said Pitcock.

The Monte Vista Rehabilitation Project has a total cost of just under $1 million, and is also being funded primarily through RTSP grant dollars, with gas tax funds covering any overages.